Monday, October 05, 2009

Two days ago I began feeling kinda wierd. Couldn't really place it at first, just fatigue, etc. Then I began vomiting and other problems all night long. Woke up knowing with the experience of someone whose lived in Haiti almost 20 years that I had malaria. Despite what textbooks tell medical professionals, malaria is our household always starts with massive GI symptoms, followed by fevers only after you start taking the treatment. Wierd, huh? This is the only illness that I've ever had that I keep thinking I would rather be dead than feel like this. To me, that is the hallmark sign that it is malaria.
Thank God here in Haiti we have a relatively easily treatable form of the malady, 3 days of large doses of chlorequin will take care of it. I just took my second dose this morning and am beginning to feel like I'd like to continue to live. I might even feel like eating later today; that would be a novelty. This is probably not the most edifying note; just want everyone to know it's not all fun and games down here.

Friday, October 02, 2009

I've lived here a long time. As most middle aged people can attest, time goes by more quickly than one can imagine. The only thing that seems to remind me that things are changing is the growth of my children and seeing how lifestyles themselves change. Alot of my friends from here are teasing me about how "Haitian" I am. I seriously doubt that. I think I've become some odd conglomerate of part Haitian/part American/ part world cultural person. I'm definitely not your typical missionary anymore though.
Most of my missionary friends go back to the states periodically to sustain support levels and talk about how hard life is here. In the twenty years I've known my husband, I've never once heard him ask for funding for anything. Seriously. He asks people to pray. When they've asked how specifically they can help, occasionally he'll tell others how specific gifts could help, etc. Well, I'm praying and rather than go to the the U.S., I'm glad we're staying here and praying.